Adobe Proto 1.0.0

Create interactive design prototypes with your Android tablet

By Mark Wilson | 16 Nov 2011

The days of using a drawboard are all but gone, but the digital equivalent is still going strong. Adobe has a range of design tools that covers a range of circumstances, and Adobe Proto makes it possible to take your designing on the road with you so you can continue working on your Android tablet when you are away from your computer.

The app can be used to create mockups of web sites, print page layouts or even application interfaces. You have the option of starting completely from scratch or you can work with CSS templates so you can get up and running as quickly as possible. Many designers feel completely at home working with a pencil and paper, and the jump to working with a touchscreen devices should feel natural and liberating.

The aim of the app is to make it as quick and easy as possible to create basic designs, and to this end there are a number of pre-designed wireframe components that can be simply dropped into place. From tabs and toolbars to menus and toolboxes, all manner of common interface components are here for you to use leaving you free to spend more time working on your design and layout than drawing individual objects.

While the idea behind Adobe Proto is sound, in practice it is a little limited. The lack of an export option is a serious oversight that will hopefully be addressed in an upcoming update, but it is still a helpful tool to add to your design arsenal.

Verdict

A handy design tool that is somewhat lacking, but shows interesting signs of promise for future versions.